Releasable corner joint arrangement for stacking frames for loading pallets

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a releasable corner joint for a stacking frame with detachable side members for a loading pallet. The detachable side members of such a stacking frame normally comprises two tubular outer posts held together by means of a girder, and are interconnected by means of a corner joint being formed as a U-shaped fitting pivotally connected to the girder so that its downwardly facing flanges in the locked position grip and hold the girder. The joint may further be provided with a gib member adapted to be introduced into one tubular side post of an adjacent side member. In accordance with the present invention the side post of the said side member supporting the joint is provided with a resilient locking member projecting through one or two apertures in the wall of said tubular side post and adapted to cooperate with a recess in one or in both flanges of the said U-shaped joint, whereby easy handling and proper function is secured.

United States Patent Ingvartsen [54] RELEASABLE CORNER JOINT ARRANGEMENT FOR STACKING FRAMES FOR LOADING PALLETS [72] Inventor: Arne lngvartsen, Bubbel, 5592 Ejby,

Denmark [22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1969 [21] Appl. No.2 877,758

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 27, 1968 Denmark ..5794/68 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,120 3/1955 Owen ..108/53 X 3,000,602 9/1961 OBrien ..l08/53X 3,009,674 11/1961 Ingvartsen ..108/53X 51 Feb. 22, 1972 McCowan ..108/53 X Eagland ..108/53 57 ABSTRACT This invention relates to a releasable corner joint for a stacking frame with detachable side members for a loading pallet. The detachable side members of such a stacking frame normally comprises two tubular outer posts held together by means of a girder, and are interconnected by means of a comer joint being formed as a U-shaped fitting pivotally connected to the girder so that its downwardly facing flanges in the locked position grip and hold the girder. The joint may further be provided with a gib member adapted to be introduced into one tubular side post of an adjacent side member. In accordance with the present invention the side post of the said side member supporting the joint is provided with a resilient locking member projecting through one or two apertures in the wall of said tubular side post and adapted to cooperate with a recess in one or in both flanges of the said U- shaped joint, whereby easy handling and proper function is secured.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 22 I972 ARNE INGVARTSEN BY N w/WAu ATTORNEYS RELEASABLE CORNER JOINT ARRANGEMENT FOR STACKING FRAMES FOR LOADING PALLETS This invention relates to a releasable corner joint arrangement for a stacking frame with detachable side members for a loading pallet the detachable side members of which each comprises two tubular outer posts held together by means of a girder, the corner joint being formed as a U-shaped fitting pivotally connected to the girder so that its downwardly facing flanges in the locked position grip and hold the girder the joint being further provided with a gib member adapted to be introduced into one tubular side post of an adjacent side member.

Detachable corner joint arrangements for stacking frames are known to the art (for instance from Danish Pat. No. 93,395), but the known joints are attended with operational and functional drawbacks in that they are not secured directly to a side member but may just be connected thereto by means of a chain. Thus they have no well defined position relatively to the side member and during transportation of detached side members will often be inconvenient because they must be manipulated by hand to be positioned properly. Moreover, these joints may easily be released unintentionally from their operative position in engagement with the side members.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a corner joint arrangement of the said type which is securely attached to a side member, and which is adapted to be retained releasably in a locked position both when the corner joint holds the side member joined to an adjacent side member, and when the side member is dismantled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corner joint by which the coupling and dismantling is rapid and mechanically safe and to obtain this by means which are cheap and simple in production.

These advantages are obtained by a corner joint arrangement according to the invention by which the side post of the side member supporting the joint is provided with a resilient locking member projecting through one or two apertures in the wall of the tubular side post and adapted to cooperate with a recess in one or in both flanges of the U-shaped joint. In this manner the desired effect is achieved because the resilient locking element projecting through the post wall in cooperation with-the recesses in the U-shaped pivotable joint enables a rapid yet effective and safe coupling of the locking element to the side member, besides which the individual components required are extremely cheap to manufacture in mass production and to fit.

The invention will be explained here in greater detail and with reference to the drawings, in which FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of the upper corner connection between a side member provided with a releasable comer joint and an adjacent side member, the corner joint being shown here in the detached position, and

FIG. 2 presents a section along the line lIlI in FIG. 1, but with the corner joint in its locked position.

FIG. 1 shows two side members 1 and 2 which are secured to a loading pallet (not shown here). A corner joint 3 is shown pivotally disposed on a girder 4 of the side member 1. The comer joint comprises a U-shaped profile section 5 about which a pivot 6 at one end can be swung on to the girder 4. Thereby a hook 7 at the other end of the profile member can be introduced into the interior of one of the tubular side posts 8 of the side member 2 to prevent the latter being forced away from its vertical position. The innermost of the downwardly facing flanges of the corner joint may conveniently be bent at the end remotest from the pivot connection 6 into a right angle and welded to the other downwardly facing flange, as indicated at 9. The member 9 can, when the corner joint is in the locked position, be introduced between the outer posts of the two side members, and the corner joint will then move free of the girder l0 of the side member 2.

The side post 11 adjacent to the joint is provided in its wall with two diametrically opposed apertures 12 through which projections'lS of a locking element in the form of a resilient ring 13 extend. The resilient ring 13, which is substantially U- shaped, is introduced in the side post 11 the plane of the resilient ring being parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side post. The downwardly facing flanges of the corner joint are provided at the points which are aligned with the apertures 12 in the locked position with corresponding apertures l4 for engagement with the projections 15 of the resilient ring. On top of the corner joint may expediently be provided a plate the outwardly facing edges of which have upwardly turned flanges for engagement with the outer edges of a pallet disposed on top of the joints.

What I claim is:

l. A releasable corner joint arrangement for a stacking frame with detachable side members for a loading pallet, the side members of which each comprises two tubular outer posts held together by means of a girder, said corner joint being formed as a U-shaped fitting pivotally connected to the girder so that its downwardly facing flanges in the locked position grip and hold the girder, the joint being further provided with a hook member adapted to be introduced into one tubular side post of an adjacent side member, the side post of the said side member supporting the joint being further provided with a resilient locking member projecting through one or two apertures in the wall of said tubular side post and adapted to cooperate with a recess in one or in both flanges of the said U- shaped fitting. 

1. A releasable corner joint arrangement for a stacking frame with detachable side members for a loading pallet, the side members of which each comprises two tubular outer posts held together by means of a girder, said corner joint being formed as a U-shaped fitting pivotally connected to the girder so that its downwardly facing flanges in the locked position grip and hold the girder, the joint being further provided with a hook member adapted to be introduced into one tubular side post of an adjacent side member, the side post of the said side member supporting the joint being further provided with a resilient locking member projecting through one or two apertures in the wall of said tubular side post and adapted to cooperate with a recess in one or in both flanges of the said U-shaped fitting. 